Machine for the manufacture of pipe by the action of centrifugal force



Augtll4, 1923. 31A5J53 P. ALLARD MACHINE FQR THE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE B 1 THE ACTION OF GENTRIFUGAL FORCE Filed Jan. 18. 1921 4 hcaots shaot 1 l i I I I I Aug. M, E923.

P. ALLARD MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE BY THE ACTION OF GENTRIFUGAL FORCE Filed Jan. 18 1921 4 ShOOMFShQQB 3 Augrlm, T1923.

' P. ALLARD MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE BY THE ACTION OF GEN'ERIFUGAL FORCE 4 Shoots mot 5 7 Q I I Aug. 11 1, 1923.

. P. ALLARD MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE BY THE ACTION OF GENTRXFUGAL FORCE Filed Jan. 18. 1921 Patented Aug. 14, i923.

Ulhlll TA treatise TBS PATENT @FFHQE.

PIERRE ALLARD, or rears, rneucn.

MACHINE FOR TEE MANUFACTURE OF PIPE BY THE ACTION OF CENTRIFUGAL FORCE.

Application filed January 18, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERRE ALLARD, a

citizen of the Republic of France, residing in Paris, Seine, France, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Pipe by the Action of Centrifugal Force; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

--Machines are already known which are used for the manufacture of cast iron pipe by the action of centrifugal force and which consist in principle of a tube or cylinder having a rapid rotation, the metal being poured in at one end. thereof, this metal being applied against the inner wall of the tube by the effect of centrifugal force and thus constituting the pipe, which latter is removed from the mold after cooling.

But it is found very difficult in practice to obtain a suitable thickness throughout the entire length of the pipe by the use of this class of machines. In order to overcome this drawback I have devised a method whereby the metal is no longer flowed in at one end of the rotating cylinder, but within the said cylinder and throughout the whole length thereof in such manner as to secure a uniform distribution of' metal upon the whole of the inner surface of the rotating cylinder under the action of centrifugal force.

To this end I have invented a feeding device or runner for carrying out the said method of casting, which comprises a pourformly distributed within therotating cyl Serial No. 438,165.

inder. It is even advantageous to hinder the flow of the metal adjacent the supply hopper by dividing up the said slot by means of one or more solid portions. The inner wall of the runner tube may also be downwardly inclined in order to facilitate the fiow of metal towards the end of the said tube and to obtain the complete discharge of the supply of metal contained in the feeding device.

Another particular feature of the machine according to my invention resides in the fact that the rotating cylinder having the cast metal applied against the inner walls thereof by the action of centrifugal force, is made removable and is fitted by tight friction into a rotating frame constituting a water jacket and journaled in suitable bearings, it being actuated by any appropriate means. By reason of this removable dis positionit is evident that the same machine may be employed for the manufacture of widely varying diameters of pipe, by simply changing the removable cylinder.

This machine also possesses another special feature consisting in the use of a stopper or cap adapted to be instantly applied or removed by means of a bayonet joint disposed for instance at the end of the removable rotating cylinder or tube, and the end cap may be provided in the interior thereof with a core moulded in sand in order to form the interior portion of the flaring end or joint of the cast metal pipe.

According to an improved form of construction, the machine also comprises the following special features:

- A.The rotating cylinder or frame is.

immersed in a cooling tank containing a large volume of water which is maintained at the boiling point, and in this manner the cylinder is kept at a constant temperature and is properly cooled.

B.--A special motor is provided for actuating the said cylinder, this being carried out through the medium of a clutchhaving conical'elements, whereby the cylinder is gradually brought to the required speed.

G-The casting receptacle or hopper carrying the pouring tube is mounted upon a special carriage and may be used for the supply of a plurality of cylinders. The said hopper may be raised -or lowered and is revoluble about a horizontal axis of rotation,

D.--A special carria e is provided for the removal of the cast tu e from the machine. It comprises a movable support with suitable jaws, actuated by worm gearing in such manner as to obtain a slight movement of rotation for separating the end plate from the revoluble cylinder, the said plate being seized by the jaws.

E.The sliding movement of the said movable support upon the ofi'take carriage and consequently the removal of the finished pipe from the revoluble frame is carried out by means of a compressed air piston whose rod exerts a tractive effect upon a cable which is connected at the other end thereof with the said support.

My invention is set forth in the following description together with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a machine for the manufacture of cast metal pipe according to my invention. Figure 1 shows the feeding device. This figure is connected to Fig. 1 on the line 1-1. Fi 2 is a vertical section'on the line XX Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom part of the pouring or feeding tube. Figs. 4 and 4 are sectional views of a form of construction of the machine. These figures are connected together on the sectionline 4-4, Fig. 4 pertaining to the left hand portion of the machine and Fig. 4? to the right hand portion of the same. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and end elevational views of the feeding hopper mounted upon its carriage. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the right hand portion of the machine.

The machine represented in Fig. 1 comprises a removable cylinder or tube a. which is for instance driven by a tight fit into a revoluble frame 6 constituting a water jacket, the water circulation taking place within the spacec formed between the members b and a. The rotatable frame I) is actuated by a pulley or a flywheel d which effects the rotation of the revoluble frame I) together with the tube a. Within the cylinder a may be introduced the runner tube e provided with a fireproof lining f and se cured at the outer end thereof to the feeding hopper j, this assemblage constituting the feeding device. i

As shown in Fig. 1, the tube 6 f is provided with aslot or rather a series of slots '9 h a which are situated along the lower follows. When the rotating portion consist-- receptacle holding the melted metal are" poured by a sudden movement into the hopper j, the weight of the metal having been previously determined with a slight excess. Under the action of the static pressure in the hopper, the metal is caused to flow within the runner tube 0 f whose lining may have a certain degree of slope in order to facilitate the flow and to afford the complete emptying of the tube at the end of the operation. The metal flows through the orifices g h i in the cylinder in the form of a thin layer which is suitably distributed and applied against the inner wall of the said revoluble cylinder under the action of centrifugal force, thus forming a tube having an absolutely uniform thickness.

The feeding tube 6 f together with the hopper j may be mounted upon a carriage 0 whereby it shall be removable and may thus be repaired when necessary. It is understood that this method of feeding or flowing in metal is applicable to all kinds of machines operating by centrifugal force. It may be used especially in the case of a machine which is constructed as shown in 1, comprising at the rear end thereof a removable stopper or cap Z mounted in such manner as to be readily taken off, for instance by abayonet joint formed at the end of the tube a, the said cap Z being provided with a core made of sand m whereby the flaring end of the cast metal tube is produced. A ring n having the thickness corresponding to that of the tube to be obtained may be secured to the other end of the revoluble cylinder a.

With this arrangement, as soon as the metal has been poured into the revoluble cylinder a the machine may be stopped after a few seconds, and the cap Z removed together with the cast metal tube which has just been formed. All that is required is to insert another sand core m into-the said cap, whereupon the machine is ready for the nextoperation.

By reason of the removable disposition of the tube a, the same machine may be used for the manufacture of tubes having very different diameters, and all that isrequired is to provide a set of cylinders or tubes 11 having the same outside diameter whereby the.

said tubes shall be interchangeable but shall possess different thicknesses, thus having different inside diameters.

In the embodiment represented in Figs. 4 to 7 the entire assemblage of the revoluble frame a. and the bearing portions 12* p (Figs. 4 and 4*) is immersed 1n a cooling receptacle 9 filled with water. This arrangement obviates the production of steam pockets such as may occur in water jackets. A motor 1* Fig.

disposed .upon the main framework of the machine is used to drive the revoluble cylinder a. It actuates by means of a belt the clutch device 8 which is constituted by a shaft 8 carrying a diskwhich is made up of ring shaped portions or elements each having a conical or wedge-shaped section, s The assemblage of the motor and clutch is adapted to slide by means of the hand wheel t upon the main framework of the machine, whereby the wedge-shaped portions of the clutch disc 8 are caused to engage the cutout portions 8 of a sleeve u secured to the cylinder 6 and rotating within the bearing portion 37 4 The hopper j,-Which is lined with fireproof material and is provided with the flow tube e is mounted upon a special carriage 0 (Figs. 5 and 6). The hopper y is disposed by means of two journals 3' j forming an axis of pivotation, upon an auxiliary frame '0 which rests by means of the two bolts to 'w upon the carriage 0. This frame may be raised and lowered as desired according to the adjustment which is given to the bolts w 'w To the journal j is keyed a worm wheel as which engages a worm m actuated by hand wheel m (Fig. 2) the rotation whereof causes the hopper to pivot about the axis of the journals.

(in the side opposite the feed portion is situated the carriage A for the removal from the mold, having slidable thereupon a movablejsupport B provided with a jaw portion (3 adapted to seize the end cap] carrying the sand core m and closing the end of the revoluble cylinder a. By means of a worm D and worm wheel E the rotation of the jaw C is efiected thus removing the cap 5. A cable F secured by a hook to the movable support E is disposed upon. a secondary pulley G situated at a suitable distance, the said cable being then secured to the rod H of a piston ll which is movable within a cylinder J disposed under the framework of the machine.

The movement of the said piston by means of compressed air admitted at K will effect theremoval of the tube and will cause the latter to be brought upon the ofi'take carriage A.

The casting operation is carried out in the following manner:

The revoluble cylinder a is first heated to about 120 degrees C. by means of pig metal pieces introduced into the cylinder, as well as the hopper and the tube 6 to which the maximum inclination is given, this being obtained when the end of the tube is situated about 20 millimeters from the bottom of the cylinder. The motor 7 is started, and the hand wheel t is operated to bring intocontact the cone-shaped clutch which causes the cylinder to gradually assume the required speed. At this moment the machine is ready for the casting operation. Into the said hopper i rapidly poured the liquid and highly heated cast metal, which has a suitable chemical composition whereby a tempering effect shall be obviated. By reason of the static pressure prevailing in the hopper, the metal is distributed by the supply tube in a thin stream and throughout the entire length of the rotating cylinder.

On the side adjacent the hopper, the melted metal is arrested by a ring a whose thickness corresponds to that of the tube to be obtained. To prevent any splashing to the outside, the hopper is supplied with only the requisite amount of metal. As soon as the hopper is empty, the machine is stopped by turning the hand wheel 2? in the contrary sense, thus disengaging the clutch and throwln on a brake shoe whereby the cylinder is Traked. The metal upon cooling becomes separated from the cylinder mold a: and contracts upon the sand core m constituting the flaring end of the tube and grips sufliciently tightly for the withdrawal of the casting. The end cap Z is released by rotating the jaw portion C and the air pistons T are operated to draw the tube upon the carriage A. The tube is thereupon taken to the tarring room after having received a steel hoop at the end to form the band, if such is required.

It then suffices to place the end cap in position, and the machine is ready for a succeeding operation. The whole does not require more than 3 minutes to carry out, and an output of 10 to 12 tubes per hour may be obtained in practice with 4 men at work upon the machine, inclusive of the pouring and the removal of the tube. The operations may be efl'ected in rapid succession, the cooling of the tube and the bearings being assured, inasmuch as the entire operative parts are immersed in a considerable volume of water.

From a mechanical standpoint, the machine is constructed in such manner as to: provide all the necessary guarantees, and the lubrication is carried out by a circulation of oil under pressure. The cylinder is made removable and is readily replaced according to the diameter of the pipe to be obtained, this being effected within suiticiently wide limits, or from 100 to 175 minimeters inside diameter.

As for all castings formed in metal, molds, it is required to make use of cast iron of a chemically hot nature, having a small percentage of phosphorus and .manganese but a large percentage of silicon in order to obviate all tempering action. By observing these rules, pipes may be ob tained which will withstand high pressures and possess perfectly regular surfaces without blow holes or pitting, and will espe cially have an extremely uniform thickness,

of any suitable nature.

I claim:

1. In a machine for centrifugally casting pipe, a rotatable metallic mold and means stationary within the mold having a metal discharge orifice at its bottom increasing in width toward its far end.

2. In a centrifugal pipe casting machine, a rotatable metallic mold, ,means extending into the mold having a metal discharge slot increasing in width from one end of the mold to the other, a water receptacle in which the mold rotates and, means for rotating said mold.

3. In a centrifugal pipe casting machine, a runnerhaving a metal discharge slot along its bottomincreasing in width from one end to the other.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, a lined runner having a metal discharge slot increasing in width from its inlet end and having its beginning divided by transverse partitions. i

5. In a centrifugal casting machine, a lined runner having armetal discharge slot in its bottom increasing in width and one or more shorter alined slots near the inlet end of the runner. I

'6. A machine for the manufacture of cast. metal pipe by the action of centrifugal force, comprising a revoluble cylinder, a carriage supporting the feeding receptacle, means for raising the said feeding receptacle, means for tipping the said feeding receptacle, a casting tube adapted and secured to the said feeding receptacle and entering the said revoluble cylinder, slots formed according to the lower generatrix of the said casting tube, a cooling tank containing boiling water wherein the said revoluble cylinder is caused to rotate, a carriage for effecting the removal of the piece from the mold comprising a suitable device for actuating the bayonet joint portion of the said cap closing the end of the said revoluble cylinder, 2. cable for propelling the said carriage for the removal of the piece from the mold, and an actuating device etfecting the traction of the said cable.

7. A machine for the manufacture of cast metal pipe by the action of centrifugal force, comp-rising a revoluble cylinder, a carriage supporting the feeding receptacle, means for raising the said feeding receptacle; means for tipping the said feeding receptacle, a casting tube adapted and se-- cured to the said feeding receptacle and entering the said revoluble cylinder, slots formed according to the lower generatrix of the said casting tube, a cooling tank containing boiling water wherein the said revoluble cylinder is caused to rotate, a carriage for effecting the removal of the piece from the mold comprising a suitable device for actuating the bayonet joint portion of the said cap closing the end of the revoluble cylinder, a cable for propelling the said carriage for the removal of the piece from the mold an actuating device effecting the traction of the said cable, a motor disposed upon the machine frame for rotating the said cylinder, and a clutch interposed between the said motor and the said cylinder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

PIERRE AL'LARD.

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